Accordionists, concertina players, dancers and musicians from across Southern Africa will perform at the inaugural SAFRA Heritage Gala in Parow on 24 September 2026, celebrating major musical and cultural anniversaries.
Image: Supplied
Heritage Day will resound with accordions, concertinas, and other free-reed instruments when musicians and dancers from across Southern Africa gather in Parow for a wide-ranging celebration of the region's musical heritage.
The inaugural SAFRA Heritage Gala 2026 | Erfenisgala takes place on Thursday, 24 September 2026, at 15:00 in the Hugo Lambrechts Auditorium. Presented by SAFRA Free Reed Mzansi, the concert traces a musical journey from Mozart and classical repertoire to boeremusiek, maskandi and famo, with tango, Celtic music, French chanson, Scottish country dancing, and contemporary South African sounds along the way.
The gala brings several important anniversaries into one programme. The year 2026 marks a century since the Kruger National Park was proclaimed, the first boeremusiek recordings were made, Die Stem was first recorded and legendary South African accordionist and composer Nico Carstens was born.
The concert also celebrates 40 years of the Hugo Lambrechts Music Centre, established in Parow in 1986. That same year, Paul Simon released Graceland, a landmark album that brought Southern African musical styles to global audiences.
Its opening track, “The Boy in the Bubble”, features the distinctive accordion of Lesotho musician Forere Motloheloa, while “Gumboots”, developed from music by Soweto's Boyoyo Boys, draws on the lively accordion-led sound of mbaqanga.
Accordionist Leon Oosthuizen and concertina player Stephaan van Zyl
Image: Supplied
The gala programme reflects the remarkable range of the free-reed family. Concertina players Carl Julius, Stephaan van Zyl and Dries Laas appear alongside accordionists Hano Krige, Leon Oosthuizen, Loren Ehlers, Louis Verwey, Monika Stuchlik, Willem Luitingh and André van Vuuren. Mants’a will represent Lesotho's famo music, while Mgojeli, Mthwentombi and Nyon’emhlophe bring maskandi sounds from KwaZulu-Natal.
Mgojeli brings maskandi sounds from KwaZulu-Natal.
Image: Supplied
Classical repertoire will also feature prominently, from Johann Strauss waltzes and marches to, Bach's Toccata in D min to, and highlights including Paganini variations and modern compositions by Zolotaryov and Olczak.
Live music will be complemented by performances from the Cape Town Tango Community, the Cape Town Branch of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society, Tygerberg Volkspelelaer, Phambili Ballet and the Mohale sisters from Lesotho.
Guest artists include guitarists Lizelle Maré Gleeson, Alberto Otero and Greg Titus, vocalist Danielle Speckman, piper Caireen Alston and multi-instrumentalist Corinne Sanderson.
Beyond the concert stage, SAFRA Free Reed Mzansi works to expand opportunities for free-reed musicians through education, eisteddfods and competitions, qualifications, performance development, and access to instruments, repair and tuning.
According to its president, Leon Oosthuizen, the accordion and concertina community is vibrant and uniquely positioned to build bridges locally and abroad.
The Heritage Gala places these instruments and the communities surrounding them at the centre of a shared Southern African celebration for young and old.
SAFRA Heritage Gala 2026 | Erfenisgala
Date: Thursday, 24 September 2026, at 15:00, Hugo Lambrechts Auditorium, Parow.
Admission: R175 | Refreshments will be available
Tickets: Quicket
